A FAIRWELL DISCOURSE (John 13-17) (Kent Smith Notes 6/2/24)
A FAREWELL DISCOURSE
John 13-17
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THE PARTS OF A FAREWELL DISCOURSE
An Announcement of Departure
A successor or replacement introduced
Encouragement and Comfort for those remaining
Prophecies and predictions
Final Instructions
Prayer (next week / John 17)
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Moses: The Book of Deuteronomy
Paul Ephesians 20
Jesus John 13-17
A farewell discourse was often given to lessen the impact of the imminent departure.
It is told somewhat in advance to help those remaining to be prepared for the departure.
John 13:19 I am telling you before it comes to pass…so you may believe.
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THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE SUCCESSOR
The Announcement of Departure
13:33 I am with you a little longer, and where I go you cannot come.
A successor or replacement introduced
14:16 I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever.
16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
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John 13:19 I am telling you before it comes to pass…so you may believe.
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ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMFORT
14:1 Do not let your heart be troubled
14:27 Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
15:1-11 The Vine and Branches (V.11) “I have spoken these things so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full.”
15:12-17 Love one another. You are My friends if you do what I command you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. Whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give it to you.
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PROPHECIES AND PREDICTIONS
13:21 One of you will betray Me.
15:18-20 The world will hate you and persecute you.
16:1 I have spoken these things to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.
16:2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.
16:4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
16:16 A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again, in a little while, and you will see Me.
16:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.
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We are most often troubled by unexpected events with a negative impact. If we know something is coming, even if it is bad, we can still prepare for it, and the impact is lessened.
As we look at the prophecies of God’s Word, we should all be preparing to face opposition and persecution for our faith and beliefs.
Too long the church in America has operated in a bubble of civil accommodation, if not actual favoritism. Across the globe this is NOT the norm. Christians are being persecuted across the globe, and we need to understand our time is overdue.
We have become complacent and accommodating of the world's systems and values, to the point that the modern church has become largely irrelevant to society. Most of Europe has become thoroughly secular, and the church across the globe has lost its redemptive influence almost entirely.
Our nation stands on the brink of seeing our religious liberties curtailed. Already our biblically grounded speech is identified as hate-speech and is vilified in the public forum.
We need to understand that biblical prophecy is clear; things will get much worse for the believers as we move inevitably toward the end times.
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FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
16:26-27 IN THAT DAY YOU WILL ASK IN MY NAME, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
16:32-33 Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but TAKE COURAGE; I have overcome the world.”
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Jesus does intercede for us and on our behalf, however we have been given direct access to the Father by the blood of Christ.
We have received the Spirit of adoption, and call Him “Abba Father – Daddy”
Not only that but we also know that as His children we will never face the wrath of God. We will be gloriously raptured before God pours out His righteous judgment on a sinful world. This is not to say we will escape all tribulations, but we will never experience God’s wrath against sin, because Jesus has already received that on our behalf.
So, we can have courage in our days on this earth knowing that we are under the watch-care of a loving Father, and that there is a glorious life awaiting us when we depart this world.
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WHY DID JESUS GIVE THIS DISCOURSE TO HIS DISCIPLES?
To prepare them for the unfolding events to come; including His death, burial, and resurrection.
To prepare them for their future experiences of persecution and martyrdom.
15:11 So that their joy may be made full
16:1 So that they may be kept from stumbling
16:4 So that they will remember that these things were predicted
16:33 So that they may have peace in tribulations
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BECAUSE WE HAVE THE HELPER
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIVING LORD
We listen and take to heart these words of Jesus:
So that our joy would be made full
So that we may be kept from stumbling.
So that we may not be troubled by foretold events.
So that we will have peace in tribulations.
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We stand on the other side of the resurrection and Pentecost. The grave has been conquered, death has lost its sting. The Helper has been given and lives within us. Yet we too live in a world hostile to the truth, among powers that will inevitably persecute those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as God in the flesh, and the only Savior of mankind.
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